Gear drive mechanism for heart valve delivery apparatus

ABSTRACT

A prosthetic valve delivery apparatus can comprise a handle, a gearbox, an input torque shaft and a plurality of output torque shafts. The input torque shaft can extend distally from the handle and can have a distal end portion operatively connected to the gearbox. The output torque shafts can be operatively connected to and extend distally from the gearbox. Rotation of the input torque shaft can cause rotation of the output torque shafts via the gear box.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/548,855, filed on Aug. 22, 2017, which is incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to implantable, mechanically expandableprosthetic devices, such as prosthetic heart valves, and to methods anddelivery assemblies for, and including, such prosthetic devices.

BACKGROUND

The human heart can suffer from various valvular diseases. Thesevalvular diseases can result in significant malfunctioning of the heartand ultimately require repair of the native valve or replacement of thenative valve with an artificial valve. There are a number of knownrepair devices (e.g., stents) and artificial valves, as well as a numberof known methods of implanting these devices and valves in humans.Because of the drawbacks associated with conventional open-heartsurgery, percutaneous and minimally-invasive surgical approaches aregarnering attention. In one technique, a prosthetic device is configuredto be implanted in a less invasive procedure by way of catheterization.For example, a collapsible transcatheter prosthetic heart valve can becrimped to a compressed state and percutaneously introduced in thecompressed state on a catheter and expanded to a functional size at thedesired position by mechanical expansion or using a self-expanding frameor stent. Despite the recent advancements in percutaneous valvetechnology, there remains a need for improved transcatheter heart valvesand delivery devices for such valves.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of improved prosthetic implant delivery assemblies andframes therefor are disclosed herein, as well as related methods anddevices for such assemblies. In several embodiments, the disclosedassemblies are configured for delivering replacement heart valves into aheart of a patient.

In one representative embodiment, a prosthetic valve delivery apparatuscan comprise a handle, a gearbox, an input torque shaft, and a pluralityof output torque shafts. The input torque shaft can extend distally fromthe handle and can have a distal end portion operatively connected tothe gearbox. The output torque shafts can be operatively connected toand extend distally from the gearbox. Rotation of the input torque shaftcan cause rotation of the output torque shafts via the gearbox.

In some embodiments, the prosthetic valve delivery apparatus can furthercomprise a motor disposed in the handle. The motor can be operativelyconnected to a proximal end portion of the input torque shaft. Actuationof the motor can result in rotation of the input torque shaft.

In some embodiments, the gearbox can comprise a drive gear and aplurality of driven gears. The drive gear can be operatively connectedto and driven by the input torque shaft. The driven gears can beconfigured to be driven by the drive gear. Each driven gear can beoperatively connected to and rotate one of the output torque shafts.

In some embodiments, the drive gear can comprise an internal gear andthe driven gears can comprise pinion gears positioned inside of theinternal gear.

In some embodiments, the drive gear can be mounted on the distal endportion of the input torque shaft and each driven gear can be mounted onone of the output torque shafts.

In some embodiments, the drive gear can have teeth that mesh with teethof each driven gear.

In some embodiments, the gearbox can further comprise at least one idlergear configured to transfer rotational motion from the drive gear to oneof the driven gears.

In some embodiments, the plurality of output torque shafts can comprisethree output torque shafts.

In some embodiments, each output torque shaft can comprise a connectorat its distal end configured to form a releasable connection with anactuator on a prosthetic heart valve.

In some embodiments, the input torque shaft can define a centralrotation axis collinear with a central longitudinal axis of the deliveryapparatus, and each output torque shaft can define a rotation axisoffset from the central longitudinal axis of the delivery apparatus.

In some embodiments, the prosthetic heart valve delivery apparatus canbe used in combination with a prosthetic valve comprising a radiallyexpandable and compressible frame and a plurality of actuatorsconfigured to radially expand and compress the frame. Each output torqueshaft can be releasably coupled to a screw of an actuator to transferrotational motion from the torque shaft to the screw. Rotation of thescrews can cause radial expansion or compression of the frame.

In some embodiments, the input torque shaft can extend at least themajority of the length of the delivery apparatus.

In another representative embodiment, a prosthetic valve deliveryassembly can comprise a prosthetic valve and a delivery apparatus. Theprosthetic valve can comprise a radially expandable and compressibleframe and a plurality of actuators configured to radially expand andcompress the frame. A delivery apparatus can comprise a handle, an inputtorque shaft extending from the handle, a gear mechanism coupled to adistal end portion of the input torque shaft, and a plurality of outputtorque shafts coupled to and extending distally from the gear mechanism.The gear mechanism can transfer rotational motion of the input torqueshaft to the output torque shafts. Each output torque shaft can bereleasably coupled to one of the actuators such that rotation of theoutput torque shafts causes the actuators to radially expand or compressthe prosthetic valve.

In some embodiments, the distal end portion of the input torque shaft,the gear mechanism, and the output torque shafts can be configured to beinserted into a patient's vasculature.

In some embodiments, the gear mechanism can comprise a drive gearoperatively connected to the distal end portion of the input torqueshaft and a plurality of driven gears configured to be driven by thedrive gear. Each driven gear can be operatively connected to one of theoutput torque shafts.

In another representative embodiment, a method of implanting aprosthetic heart valve can comprise inserting a prosthetic heart valveand a distal end portion of a delivery apparatus into a patient'svasculature and rotating the input torque shaft. The prosthetic heartvalve can be in a radially compressed state and the delivery apparatuscan comprise an input torque shaft, a gear mechanism coupled to theinput torque shaft along the distal end portion of the deliveryapparatus inserted into the patient's vasculature, and a plurality ofoutput torque shafts releasably coupled to actuators on the prostheticheart valve. Rotation of the input torque shaft can produce rotation ofthe output torque shafts via the gear mechanism. Rotation of the outputtorque shafts can actuate the actuators, which can cause the prostheticheart valve to expand from the radially compressed state to a radiallyexpanded state.

In some embodiments, the act of inserting the prosthetic heart valve andthe distal end portion of the delivery apparatus into the patient'svasculature can comprise advancing the prosthetic heart valve and thedistal end portion of the delivery apparatus through the aorta such thatthe input torque shaft extends through the aortic arch, and the outputtorque shafts and the gear mechanism are located in the ascending aorta.

In some embodiments, the method of implanting the prosthetic heart valvecan further comprise releasing the output torque shafts from theactuators.

In some embodiments, the output torque shafts can be rotated at adifferent rotational speed than the input torque shaft.

In some embodiments, at least one of the output torque shafts can rotatein a different direction than the input torque shaft.

In some embodiments, the gear mechanism can comprise a drive gearoperatively connected to the distal end portion of the input torqueshaft and a plurality of driven gears configured to be driven by thedrive gear. Each driven gear can be operatively connected to one of theoutput torque shafts.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a prostheticheart valve.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary frame of the prostheticheart valve of FIG. 1 in a radially expanded configuration.

FIG. 3 shows the frame of FIG. 2 in a radially collapsed configuration.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary prosthetic valve delivery apparatus that canbe used for implanting the prosthetic heart valve of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a handle for adelivery apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an input torque shaft, gearbox, andoutput torque shafts of the prosthetic valve delivery apparatus of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the input torque shaft, gearbox andoutput torque shafts shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view of the gear box of FIGS. 4-6.

FIGS. 8A-8B are end views of the gearbox of FIGS. 5-6 showing theoperation of the gears inside of the gearbox.

FIG. 9 is an end view showing the inside of an alternative embodiment ofa gearbox.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the distal end portion of the deliveryapparatus and the prosthetic valve shown in FIG. 1, showing theprosthetic valve in a radially expanded state.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, perspective view showing the prosthetic valve ofFIG. 10 and the distal end portions of the output torque shaftsreleasably coupled to the actuators of the prosthetic valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are examples of prosthetic implant delivery assembliesand components thereof which can improve a physician's ability tocontrol the size of a mechanically-expandable prosthetic implant, suchas prosthetic valves (e.g., prosthetic heart valves or venous valves),stents, or grafts, as well as facilitate separation of the prostheticimplant from the delivery assembly, during the implantation procedure.The present disclosure also discloses frames for use with suchprosthetic implants.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary prosthetic heart valve 100. The illustratedprosthetic valve is adapted to be implanted in the native aorticannulus, although in other embodiments it can be adapted to be implantedin the other native annuluses of the heart (e.g., the pulmonary, mitral,and tricuspid valves). The prosthetic valve 100 can also be adapted tobe implanted in other tubular organs or passageways in the body. Theprosthetic valve 100 can comprise a stent or frame 102, a valvularstructure 110, and inner and/or outer sealing means. The prostheticvalve 100 can comprise an inflow end portion 104 and an outflow endportion 106.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing means comprises an outerskirt (not shown in FIG. 1), which can be secured to the outer surfaceof the frame 102 with sutures, an adhesive, and/or other suitabletechniques or mechanisms. The outer skirt can help establish a seal withthe native tissue at the implantation site to prevent or minimizeperivalvular leakage. In alternative embodiments, the prosthetic valve100 can have a skirt or sealing member mounted on the inside of theframe 102 or a skirt or sealing member mounted on the inside and outsideof the frame 102. The skirt can be formed from natural tissue (e.g.,pericardial tissue) or any of various biocompatible synthetic materials,including biocompatible fabrics (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET)fabric).

The valvular structure 110 can comprise three leaflets 112, collectivelyforming a leaflet structure, which can be arranged to collapse in atricuspid arrangement. The lower edge of leaflet structure 110 desirablyhas an undulating, curved scalloped shape. By forming the leaflets withthis scalloped geometry, stresses on the leaflets are reduced, which inturn improves durability of the prosthetic valve. Moreover, by virtue ofthe scalloped shape, folds and ripples at the belly of each leaflet 112(the central region of each leaflet), which can cause earlycalcification in those areas, can be eliminated or at least minimized.The scalloped geometry also reduces the amount of tissue material usedto form leaflet structure, thereby allowing a smaller, more even crimpedprofile at the inflow end 104 of the prosthetic valve 100. The leaflets112 can be formed of pericardial tissue (e.g., bovine pericardialtissue), biocompatible synthetic materials, or various other suitablenatural or synthetic materials as known in the art and described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,730,118, which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

The prosthetic valve 100 can define a longitudinal axis extendingthrough the inflow end portion 104 and the outflow end portion 106. Theprosthetic valve 100 can also comprise one or more actuators 130,including sleeves 134, configured to radially expand and compress theframe 102, as discussed more fully below in connection with FIG. 2. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the prosthetic valve 100 includes three suchactuators 130, although a greater or fewer number of actuators could beused in other embodiments. The leaflets 112 can have commissureattachments that wrap around the sleeves 134 of the actuators 130. FIG.2 shows the frame 102 of FIG. 1 including the actuators 130 without thevalvular structure 110 or the outer skirt for purposes of illustration.The frame 102 can be made of any of various suitable materials, such asstainless steel or a nickel titanium alloy (“NiTi”), for exampleNitinol. The frame 102 can include a plurality of interconnected latticestruts 108 arranged in a lattice-type pattern and forming a plurality ofapices 114 at an outflow end 124 of the frame 102. The struts 108 canalso form similar apices 114 at an inflow end 126 of the frame 102. Thelattice struts 108 are shown as positioned diagonally, or offset at anangle relative to, and radially offset from, the longitudinal axis ofthe prosthetic valve 100. In other implementations, the lattice struts108 can be offset by a different amount than depicted in FIG. 2, or someor all of the lattice struts 108 can be positioned parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the prosthetic valve 100.

The lattice struts 108 can be pivotably coupled to one another. In theillustrated embodiment, for example, the end portions of the struts 108forming the apices 114 at the outflow end 124 and at the inflow end 126of the frame 102 can have a respective opening or aperture 116. Thestruts 108 also can be formed with openings or apertures 118 spacedapart along their lengths between the opposite ends of the struts.Respective hinges can be formed at the apices 114 and at thejunctions/locations where struts 108 overlap each other between the endsof the frame via fasteners 122, which can comprise rivets or pins thatextend through the apertures 116, 118. The hinges can allow the struts108 to pivot relative to one another as the frame 102 is expanded orcontracted, such as during assembly, preparation, or implantation of theprosthetic valve 100. For example, the frame 102 (and thus theprosthetic valve 100) can be manipulated into a radially compressed orcontracted configuration (see, e.g., FIG. 3) and inserted into a patientfor implantation. Once inside the body, the prosthetic valve 100 can bemanipulated into an expanded state (e.g., FIG. 2) and then released fromthe delivery apparatus, as further described below.

The frame 102 can be formed using any suitable technique. Suitabletechniques can include separately forming individual components (e.g.,the struts 108 and fasteners 122) of the frame and then mechanicallyassembling and connecting the individual components to form the frame102. The struts 108 and fasteners 122 can be formed, for example, bylaser cutting those components from sheets or tubes of metal, or byelectroforming (electroplating or electrodeposition) or physical vapordeposition. In some embodiments, electroforming or physical vapordeposition can be used to form subcomponents of the frame 102 or theentire frame 102 with pivotable connections between the struts 108. Inone implementation, for example, electroforming or physical vapordeposition can be used to form struts 108 having integral fasteners 122.The individual struts 108 can be assembled together into a frame byinserting the integral fasteners 122 of each strut through acorresponding aperture of an adjacent strut. In some embodiments,electroforming or physical vapor deposition can be used to form theentire frame 102 in its final, cylindrical shape. In other embodiments,electroforming or physical vapor deposition can be used to form theentire frame in a flattened configuration, after which the ends of theflattened frame are connected to each other to form the finalcylindrical shape of the frame.

In other embodiments, the lattice struts 108 are not coupled to eachother with respective hinges (e.g., fasteners 122) but are otherwisepivotable or bendable relative to each other to permit radial expansionand contraction of the frame 102. For example, the frame 102 can beformed (e.g., via laser cutting, electroforming or physical vapordeposition) from a single piece of material (e.g., a metal tube).Further details regarding the construction of the frame 102 aredisclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018/0153689 and U.S.application Ser. No. 15/995,528, filed Jun. 1, 2018, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Further details regarding transcatheter prosthetic heart valves,including the manner in which the valvular structure 110 can be coupledto the frame 102 of the prosthetic valve 100, can be found, for example,in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,730,118, 7,393,360, 7,510,575, 7,993,394, and8,652,202, and U.S. application Ser. No. 15/978,459, filed May 14, 2018,which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Each of the actuators 130 can comprise a screw or threaded rod 132, afirst anchor member in the form of a sleeve or cylinder 134, and asecond anchor member in the form of a threaded nut 136. The rod 132extends through the sleeve 134 and the nut 136. The sleeve 134 can besecured to frame 102, such as with one of the fasteners 122 that forms ahinge at the junction of two struts 108. The nut 136 can be secured tothe frame 102 at a location axially spaced from the attachment locationof the sleeve 134, such as with one of the fasteners 122 at a junctionbetween two struts 108. Each actuator 130 is configured to increase thedistance between the attachment locations of a respective sleeve 134 andnut 136, which causes the frame 102 to elongate axially and compressradially, and to decrease the distance between the attachment locationsof a respective sleeve 134 and nut 136, which causes the frame 102 toforeshorten axially and expand radially.

For example, the lower end portion of each screw 132 (the portionextending through the nut 136) can have external threads that engageinternal threads of the nut 136 while the upper portion of the screw 132(the portion extending through the sleeve 134) can be fixed axiallyrelative to the sleeve 134 but free to rotate relative to the sleeve134. In this manner, rotation of the screw 132 in a first directioncauses the nut 136 to travel axially along the screw in a direction awayfrom the sleeve 134 to radially compress the frame (with the nutapplying a distally directed force to the frame), while rotation of thescrew in a second direction causes the nut 136 to travel axially alongthe screw in a direction toward the sleeve 134 to radially expand theframe (with the nut applying a proximally directed force to the frame).

In another embodiment, the screw 132 of each actuator 130 can haveexternal threads along its upper portion to engage internal threads of acorresponding sleeve 134, while the lower portion of the screw 132 canbe fixed axially relative to an anchor member 136 but free to rotaterelative to the anchor member 136. In this embodiment, the anchor member136 need not have internal threads, thus is not referred to as a “nut”.Rotation of the screw 132 in this example causes the sleeve 134 to movetoward or away from the anchor member 136 to radially expand or compressthe frame, depending on the rotational direction of the screw.

In another embodiment, the screw 132 of each actuator can have externalthreads along its upper and lower portion to engage internal threads ofthe sleeve 134 and the nut 136. The internal threads of the sleeve 134and the nut 136 are threaded in the opposite direction. In this manner,rotation of the screw 132 in a first direction causes both the sleeve134 and the nut 136 to travel along the length of the screw towards eachother to radially expand the frame. Rotation of the screw 132 in asecond direction causes both the sleeve 134 and the nut 136 to travelalong the length of the screw away from each other to radially compressthe frame.

Each screw 132 can include an attachment member 138 along a proximal endportion of the screw configured to form a releasable connection with acorresponding drive shaft of a delivery apparatus to transfer torque ofthe delivery apparatus to the screw. The attachment member 138 in theillustrated configuration comprises a notch 140 and a projection 142that can engage a corresponding projection of a drive shaft of thedelivery apparatus, as described in further detail below.

When expanding the frame 102 from a radially compressed state to aradially expanded state, it is desirable to rotate the screws 132 in asynchronized fashion. Additionally, a proper amount of torque must betransferred from the handle of a delivery system to the screws 132. Insome embodiments, torque can be transmitted directly from the handle ofthe delivery apparatus to each of the screws 132 via separate driveshafts that extend nearly the entire length of the delivery apparatusfrom the handle to the prosthetic valve coupled to the distal end of thedelivery apparatus. This arrangement requires that torque to each screw132 be transmitted via a relatively long drive shaft having a relativelysmall diameter. As shown in the formulas below, the amount of torquethat can be transmitted along the length of a shaft is inverselyproportional to the length of a shaft and directly proportional to thediameter of a shaft.

For a solid shaft having a circular cross-section:

$T = {\frac{D^{4}\pi\; G\;\theta}{32\; L}\text{;}}$and for a tubular shaft:

$T = {\frac{\left( {{OD}^{4} - {ID}^{4}} \right)\pi\; G\;\theta}{32\; L}\text{;}}$where T=torque; D=diameter;G=shear modulus; L=shaft length; OD=tube outer diameter; and ID=tubeinner diameter. Also, deflection of the delivery apparatus as it isbeing advanced through the patient's vasculature can cause one or moreof the draft shafts to elongate and one or more of the drive shafts toforeshorten, which can adversely affect the ability of the drive shaftsto achieve synchronized rotation of the actuators at the desired torque.Therefore, it can be advantageous to have a mechanism along the distalend of the delivery system adjacent to the prosthetic valve to actuatethe actuators 130. This can enable the use of one robust torque shaftfor transmitting torque from the handle along the majority of the lengthof the delivery apparatus rather than multiple smaller shafts. This canalso allow the lengths of the individual drive shafts that actuallytransmit torque directly to the actuators to be minimized, whichpromotes the application of torque to the actuators and avoidselongation and foreshortening of the drive shafts.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a prosthetic valve deliveryapparatus 200 that can be used for percutaneously delivering andimplanting a prosthetic heart valve, such as prosthetic heart valve 100,in the heart of a patient. The delivery apparatus 200 of FIG. 4comprises a handle 210, an outer shaft or catheter 220 extendingdistally from the handle 210, an input torque shaft 224 extendingdistally from the handle 210 through the outer shaft 220, a gearbox, orgear mechanism, 230 operatively connected to a distal end portion of theinput torque shaft 224, a plurality of output torque shafts 240, and anose cone 250. The nose cone 250 can be mounted on the distal endportion of an innermost shaft 252 that serves as a guidewire lumen,which can extend coaxially through the input torque shaft 224 and canhave a proximal end portion coupled to the handle 210.

The outer catheter 220 can be a steerable catheter, which can be steeredby a user as it is advanced through the patient's vasculature byadjusting the curvature of the outer catheter 220. In particularembodiments, the delivery apparatus can have one or more pull wiresextending through the outer catheter with proximal end portions of thepull wires coupled to an adjustment knob on the handle 210. Theadjustment knob is configured to vary the tension in the one or morepull wires, which is effective to vary the curvature of the outercatheter 220 and the shaft 224. Further details regarding a steeringmechanism for controlling the curvature of a delivery apparatus aredisclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0158497, which isincorporated herein by reference.

Each output torque shaft 240 can have a proximal end portion connectedto the gearbox 230 and a distal end portion releasably connected to arespective screw 132 of an actuator 130, as further discussed below.Each output torque shaft 240 can comprise, for example, a rod, a rigidtube, a cable, a laser cut tube, a hypotube, or any other elongatedannular structure (e.g., any tubular or cylindrical structure). Aproximal end portion of the input torque shaft 224 can be operativelyconnected to an actuator, such as a motor 212, housed within or coupledto the handle 210. The motor 212 can be, for example, an electric motorpowered by batteries, which can also be housed within the handle 210. Inalternative embodiments, the motor 212 can be a hydraulically driven ora pneumatically driven motor. The motor 212 is operable to actuate orrotate the input torque shaft 224, which in turn actuates or rotates theoutput torque shafts 240 via the gearbox 230, which in turn rotate thescrews 132 to radially expand and compress the prosthetic valve, asexplained in further detail below. Further details regarding a motorizedhandle that can be used to apply torque to the torque shaft 224 isdisclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0296962, which isincorporated herein by reference. The input torque shaft 224 spans themajority of the delivery apparatus and can have a larger diameter thanin delivery systems where multiple torque shafts extend all the way fromthe handle to the prosthetic valve.

The delivery apparatus 200 can have various user interface controls tocontrol the operation of the delivery apparatus. For example, referringto FIG. 4A, the handle 210 can have one or more buttons 280 a, 280 bthat control operation of the motor 212. The button 280 a can beoperable to produce rotation of the torque shaft 224 in a firstdirection to radially expand the prosthetic valve 100. The button 280 bcan be operable to produce rotation of the torque shaft 224 in a seconddirection, opposite the first direction, to radially compress theprosthetic valve 100.

The handle 210 can also include a processor and memory for storing andexecuting software that can control deployment of the prosthetic valve.For example, in lieu of or in addition to the buttons 280 a, 280 b, abutton 282 can be provided to control operation of the motor. In oneimplementation, the button 282 can be operable to actuate the motor 212when pressed by a user, which can begin a deployment procedure wherebythe prosthetic valve is automatically expanded according to apredetermined algorithm. For example, the prosthetic valve can beexpanded in a pulsed or stepped manner, as disclosed in U.S. U.S. PatentPublication No. 2014/0296962. The handle 210 can also include a stopbutton 284 that is operable to stop or discontinue expansion of theprosthetic valve at any time during the expansion process. The handle210 can also include a visual display 286, which can display text,graphics and/or other information regarding the deployment of theprosthetic valve.

The delivery apparatus can further include another motor (which can behoused in the handle 210) and additional buttons 288 a, 288 b (e.g., onthe handle) for controlling the curvature of the outer catheter 220 andthe shaft 224. For example, the button 288 a can be operable to producerotation of the motor in a first direction to tension the one or morepull wires and cause the outer catheter 220 to bend or curve, such aswhen navigating around the aortic arch. The button 288 b can be operableto produce rotation of the motor in a second direction, opposite thefirst direction, to reduce tension in the one or more pull wires,allowing the outer catheter to straighten.

The buttons 280 a, 280 b, 282, 284, 288 a, 288 b can be any of variousshapes and sizes. Also, any of various switches or dials can be providedto perform any of the functions described above. For example, athree-position switch can replace buttons 280 a, 280 b. The switch canbe moved between a first position that rotates the motor 212 in thefirst direction to expand the prosthetic valve, a second, neutralposition in which the motor 212 is de-activated, and a third positionthat rotates the motor 212 in the second direction to compress theprosthetic valve. In alternative embodiments, the display 286 can be atouch screen with a user interface and any of the buttons 280 a, 280 b,282, 284, 288 a, 288 b can be replaced with buttons on the touch screendisplay.

In some embodiments, the handle 210 can be in communication with aseparate control unit (via a wireless or wired communication link) thatincludes a display and/or a processor for executing software, in whichcase the handle 210 need not include those features.

In alternative embodiments, the delivery apparatus need not include amotor to rotate the input torque shaft 224 and instead the input torqueshaft 224 can be manually rotated by the user. For example, the proximalend portion of the torque shaft 224 can be connected to a rotatable knobor wheel mounted on the handle that is operable to rotate the torqueshaft 224 when the knob or wheel is rotated by the user.

FIG. 5 shows perspective view of the distal end portion of the inputtorque shaft 224, the gearbox 230, and the output torque shafts 240. Forpurposes of illustration, the outer catheter 220 is omitted from FIG. 5.The input torque shaft 224 can comprise a robust torque transmittingcable connected to the handle 210 at its proximal end and connected tothe gearbox 230 at its distal end. The gearbox 230 can transfer thetorque from the input torque shaft 224 to each of the output torqueshafts 240. The gearbox 230 can also be configured to reduce or increasethe rotation speed and/or the torque of the input torque shaft 224 so asto rotate the output torque shafts 240 at a different rotation speedand/or toque than the input torque shaft as desired.

FIG. 6 shows an internal cross-sectional view of the gearbox 230 and thedistal end portion of the input torque shaft 224. FIG. 7 shows aperspective view of the gearbox 230 in a disassembled state. Referringto FIGS. 6 and 7, the input torque shaft 224 can be housed within astatic (non-rotatable) flex shaft 226, which extends through the lumenof the outer shaft 220. The static flex shaft 226 can have a proximalend portion connected to the handle 210 and a distal end portion 254that can extend axially beyond the outer shaft 220 into a proximalopening 256 of a gearbox housing 232. The distal end portion 254 can besecured inside the opening of the gearbox housing 232, such as with anadhesive, friction fit, fasteners, welding, and/or other suitabletechniques or mechanisms, so as to secure the gearbox relative to theouter shaft 220 and the flex shaft 226

The gearbox 230 defines a gear train comprising a drive gear and aplurality of driven gears for transferring rotational motion of theinput torque shaft to each output torque shaft. In the illustratedembodiment, a distal end portion 258 of the input torque shaft 224 canextend axially beyond the distal end of the flex shaft 226 where it isconnected to a drive gear 234, which in turn is connected to a pluralityof driven gears 242. Each of the driven gears 242 is connected to androtates a respective output torque shaft 240. In the illustratedembodiment, the distal end portion 258 of the input torque shaft 224extends into a central opening 260 of the drive gear 234, which cancomprise an internal gear having teeth on an inner surface of the gear.The distal end portion 258 can be secured inside of the central opening260, such as with an adhesive, friction fit, fasteners, welding, and/orother suitable techniques or mechanisms. The driven gears 242 can bepinion gears having external teeth that mesh with the teeth of the drivegear 234.

The gearbox 230 in the illustrated configuration further comprises aproximal plate 238 housed within the drive gear 234, a distal plate 239mounted to the distal end of the housing 232, and an inner shaft ortubular portion 236 that extends from the proximal plate 238 to thedistal plate 239. The tubular portion 236 can be fixed to the proximaland distal plates 238, 239 so as to keep them properly spaced from andparallel to each other. The tubular portion 236 provides a lumen forallowing the innermost shaft 252 (FIG. 4) to extend through the gearbox230 without interfering with the gears 234, 242. A guidewire (notshown), as typically known in the art, can extend through the innermostshaft 252 and can be used to guide the delivery apparatus 200 through apatient's vasculature. Each output torque shaft 240 can be securedwithin an opening of a respective gear 242, such as with an adhesive,friction fit, welding, and/or other suitable techniques or mechanisms.The output torque shafts 240 can freely rotate with respect to theproximal and distal plates 238, 239 while remaining perpendicular to theproximal and distal plates 238, 239.

Each output torque shaft 240 can have a proximal end portion supportedwithin a respective opening 262 in the proximal plate 238 and anintermediate portion supported within a respective opening 264 in thedistal plate 239. The output torque shafts 240 can rotate within theircorresponding openings 262, 264 within the proximal and distal plates238, 239, which help retain proper alignment of the driven gears 242within the drive gear 234. Each output torque shaft 240 has a distal endportion releasably connected to a respective screw 132 of an actuator130, as further described below.

When the input torque shaft 224 is actuated by the motor 212, the inputtorque shaft 224 rotates, which causes the drive gear 234 to rotate. Therotation of the drive gear 234 in turn causes the driven gears 242 torotate as shown in more detail in FIGS. 8-9. Each driven gear 242 inturn rotates an output torque shaft 240, which in turn rotates arespective screw 132 of an actuator to effect radial expansion andcompression of the frame 102 of the prosthetic valve. In one specificembodiment, the internal gear 234 can have 31 teeth, a module of 0.2, apressure angle of 20°, and a backlash of 0.1 mm. In other embodiments,the internal gear 234 can have any other parameters. The number ofpinions 242 in the gearbox 230 can be equal to the number of outputtorque shafts 240. Each pinion 242 can have 10 teeth, a module of 0.2, apressure angle of 20°, and a backlash of 0.1 mm. In other embodiments,the internal gear 234 and the pinions 242 can have various otherparameters, depending on the particular application.

FIGS. 8A and 8B further illustrate the operation of the gearbox 230. Theinternal gear 234 can have a plurality of teeth 235 that can engagerespective teeth 243 of the pinions 242. As shown in FIG. 8A, clockwiserotation of the internal gear 234 results in corresponding clockwiserotation of the pinions 242. As shown in FIG. 8B, counter-clockwiserotation of the internal gear 234 results in correspondingcounter-clockwise rotation of the pinions 242. The pinions 242 can beconnected to respective output torque shafts 240 such that rotation ofthe pinions 242 causes corresponding rotation of the output torqueshafts 240 in the same direction. As such, the gearbox 230 can convert asingle input torque from the input torque shaft 224 into a number ofoutput torques equal to the number of output torque shafts 240 connectedto the gearbox 230. The gearbox 230 can also shift the rotation axisfrom the center axis of the input torque shaft 224 (which is collinearto the central longitudinal axis of the delivery apparatus) to therotation axes of the output torque shafts 240, which are offset from thelongitudinal axis of the delivery apparatus. Shifting the axes ofrotation is advantageous because the screws 132 of the actuators 130 arealso offset from the central longitudinal axis of the frame 102.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gear ratio of the drive gear to thedriven gears is greater than 1 (e.g., a gear ratio of 3.1:1 for aninternal gear having 31 teeth and pinions having 10 teeth), so that theoutput torque shafts 240 rotate faster than the input torque shaft 224.In alternative embodiments, the gearbox can be configured to have a gearratio of the drive gear to the driven gears that is less than 1 suchthat the output torque shafts rotate slower than the input torque shaft.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of a gearbox. The gearbox of FIG.9 is similar to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 8A-8B, except that one ormore idler gears can be added to change the direction of rotation fromthe internal gear 234 to one or more of the driven pinion gears 242. Inthe illustrated embodiment, two driven pinion gears 242 mounted onrespective output torque shafts 240 have teeth 243 that engage theinternal teeth 235 of the gear 234 as previously described. An idlerpinion gear 274 can be mounted on a respective shaft 276 within theinternal gear 234 and can have teeth 275 that mesh with the teeth 235 ofthe internal gear 234. A third driven pinion gear 279, mounted on one ofthe output torque shafts 240, has teeth 279 that mesh with the teeth ofthe idler pinion gear 274. Thus, in use, rotation of the internal gear234 causes rotation of the pinion gears 242 and their respective outputshafts 240 in the same direction, and rotation of the pinion gear 278and its respective output shaft 240 in the opposite direction (throughthe idler gear). Such a configuration can be advantageous if one or moreof the screws 132 of the actuators 130 are threaded in a differentdirection from the other screws (e.g., one or more screws 132 areright-hand screws while one or more are left-hand screws). Inalternative embodiments, the gearbox can have more than one idler gear,such as two idler gears to change the direction of rotation of two ofthe driven pinion gears, or three idler gears to change the direction ofrotation of all three driven pinion gears.

FIGS. 10 and 11 shows the distal end portion of the delivery apparatus200 releasably connected to the frame 102 of the prosthetic valve 100.As shown, each output torque shaft 240 can have a distal end portion 266configured to mate with a corresponding attachment member 138 of a screw132 of an actuator 130. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, thedistal end portion 266 can be formed with a projection 268 shaped to bereceived in a notch 140 of an attachment member 138 and a notch shapedto receive a projection 142 of an attachment member 138. A sleeve 270can extend over the distal end portion 266 of each output shaft 240 anda mating attachment member 138 of a screw 132 to maintain the connectionbetween the output shaft 240 and the screw 132. Each sleeve 270 canextend proximally from the prosthetic valve to the delivery apparatusand is configured to be moved in the longitudinal direction to uncoverthe mating connection between the attachment member 138 and the distalend portion 266 of an output shaft. In particular embodiments, forexample, each sleeve 270 can be connected to a wire or shaft that can bemanipulated by a user to produce proximal movement of the sleeve 270relative to the associated shaft 240. When the sleeves 270 are retractedproximally to uncover the connection between the screws 132 and theshafts 240, the shafts 240 can release/de-couple from the screws 132 byretracting or pulling the shafts 240 slightly relative to the screws132.

Other configurations and devices for forming a releasable connectionbetween a drive shaft of a delivery apparatus and a rotatable screw of aprosthetic valve frame, such as those described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication 2014/0296962, can be used to form a releasableconnection between each torque shaft 240 and screw 132.

To use the delivery apparatus 200 to deliver and implant the prostheticvalve 100 at a desired location within the heart (e.g., the nativeaortic valve), the prosthetic valve 100 can first be radially compressedor crimped to a compressed state, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, theprosthetic valve 100 can begin in a radially expanded state as shown inFIG. 2. The distal end portions 266 of the output torque shafts 240 canbe connected to the attachment members 138 of the screws 132 and thesleeves 270 can be placed over the distal end portions 266 and theattachment members 138.

Once the output torque shafts 240 are connected to the attachmentmembers 138, if the prosthetic valve 100 is in a radially expandedstate, the output torque shafts 240 can be rotated (for example, in aclockwise direction) thereby causing the screws 132 to rotate andradially compress the frame 102. Conventional techniques and devices canthen be used to insert and advance the delivery apparatus 200 and theprosthetic valve 100 through a patient's vasculature to the desiredimplantation site. For example, a prosthetic aortic valve can bedelivered in a retrograde approach by advancing the delivery apparatusthrough a femoral artery and the aorta to the native aortic valve.

At or adjacent the implantation site, the handle 210 can be actuated,such as by pressing a button (e.g., button 280 a or button 282),flipping a switch, turning a dial, or using an alternative method toturn on the motor 212, to rotate the output torque shafts 240 (forexample, in an anti-clockwise direction), thereby causing the screws 132to rotate and radially expand the frame 102 of the prosthetic valve 100.For example, during retrograde delivery of the prosthetic valve to theaortic position, the delivery apparatus is advanced through thedescending aorta, the aortic arch, and the ascending aorta to positionthe prosthetic valve within the native aortic annulus. The input torqueshaft 224 desirably is sized such that it extends through the aorticarch and the gearbox 230 and the output torque shafts 240 are positionedwithin the ascending aorta when the prosthetic valve is at the desiredimplantation site. In this manner, deflection and resulting elongationand foreshortening of the output torque shafts 240 can be avoided duringvalve deployment. As such, all of the output torque shafts 240 can berotated in a synchronized manner at the same torque for even andpredictable expansion of the prosthetic valve.

Advantageously, the prosthetic valve 100 is fully operational (allowingantegrade blood to the flow through the valve in one direction andblocking retrograde blood from flowing through the valve) while it isstill connected to the delivery apparatus 200. The physician cantherefore test the operation of the prosthetic valve before it isreleased from the delivery apparatus. If needed, the prosthetic valve100 can be re-collapsed inside the body by reversing the rotation of themotor 212 (for example, rotating the motor in a clockwise direction),re-positioned, and then re-expanded. Reversing the rotation of the motor212 can be achieved, for example, by pressing button 280 b.

If the physician is still not satisfied with the position and/oroperation of the prosthetic valve, it can be re-collapsed and removedfrom the body. Another advantage provided by the actuators 130 is thatthe prosthetic valve can be expanded to a final expanded diameter in arange of expanded diameters that provides the best fit for the patient'sannulus. In particular embodiments, the actuators 130 are self-lockingactuators, meaning that the threads of the screws 132 engaging thethreads of the anchors 134 and/or anchors 136 resist pushing or pullingforces acting on the actuators and therefore can retain the expandeddiameter of the frame 102 after the prosthetic valve is released fromthe delivery apparatus. Once the frame 102 is radially expanded to adesired size, the sleeves 270 can be retracted and the output torqueshafts can be disengaged from the screws 132. The delivery apparatus 200can then be removed from the patient.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

It should be understood that the disclosed embodiments can be adapted todeliver and implant prosthetic devices in any of the native annuluses ofthe heart (e.g., the pulmonary, mitral, and tricuspid annuluses), andcan be used with any of various delivery approaches (e.g., retrograde,antegrade, transseptal, transventricular, transatrial, etc.). Thedisclosed embodiments can also be used to implant prostheses in otherlumens of the body. Further, in addition to prosthetic valves, thedelivery assembly embodiments described herein can be adapted to deliverand implant various other prosthetic devices such as stents and/or otherprosthetic repair devices.

For purposes of this description, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures of the embodiments of this disclosure are described herein. Thedisclosed methods, apparatus, and systems should not be construed asbeing limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directedtoward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the variousdisclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations andsub-combinations with one another. The methods, apparatus, and systemsare not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combinationthereof, nor do the disclosed embodiments require that any one or morespecific advantages be present or problems be solved. The technologiesfrom any example can be combined with the technologies described in anyone or more of the other examples. In view of the many possibleembodiments to which the principles of the disclosed technology may beapplied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments areonly preferred examples and should not be taken as limiting the scope ofthe disclosed technology.

Although the operations of some of the disclosed embodiments aredescribed in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation,it should be understood that this manner of description encompassesrearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specificlanguage set forth below. For example, operations described sequentiallymay in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, forthe sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the variousways in which the disclosed methods can be used in conjunction withother methods. Additionally, the description sometimes uses terms like“provide” or “achieve” to describe the disclosed methods. These termsare high-level abstractions of the actual operations that are performed.The actual operations that correspond to these terms may vary dependingon the particular implementation and are readily discernible by one ofordinary skill in the art.

As used in this application and in the claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural forms unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.”Further, the terms “coupled” and “associated” generally meanelectrically, electromagnetically, and/or physically (e.g., mechanicallyor chemically) coupled or linked and does not exclude the presence ofintermediate elements between the coupled or associated items absentspecific contrary language.

As used herein, the term “proximal” refers to a position, direction, orportion of a device that is closer to the user and further away from theimplantation site. As used herein, the term “distal” refers to aposition, direction, or portion of a device that is further away fromthe user and closer to the implantation site. Thus, for example,proximal motion of a device is motion of the device toward the user,while distal motion of the device is motion of the device away from theuser. The terms “longitudinal” and “axial” refer to an axis extending inthe proximal and distal directions, unless otherwise expressly defined.

As used herein, the terms “integrally formed” and “unitary construction”refer to a construction that does not include any welds, fasteners, orother means for securing separately formed pieces of material to eachother.

As used herein, operations that occur “simultaneously” or “concurrently”occur generally at the same time as one another, although delays in theoccurrence of one operation relative to the other due to, for example,spacing, play or backlash between components in a mechanical linkagesuch as threads, gears, etc., are expressly within the scope of theabove terms, absent specific contrary language.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of thedisclosure may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustratedembodiments are only preferred examples and should not be taken aslimiting the scope of the disclosure. Rather, the scope of thedisclosure is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A prosthetic valve delivery apparatus,comprising: a handle; a gearbox; an input torque shaft extendingdistally from the handle and having a distal end portion operativelyconnected to the gearbox; and a plurality of output torque shaftsoperatively connected to and extending distally from the gearbox,wherein rotation of the input torque shaft causes rotation of the outputtorque shafts via the gear box; and wherein the gearbox comprises: adrive gear operatively connected to and driven by the input torqueshaft; a plurality of driven gears configured to be driven by the drivegear, wherein each driven gear is operatively connected to and rotatesone of the output torque shafts; and the prosthetic valve deliveryapparatus further comprising a prosthetic valve; wherein said prostheticvalve comprises a radially expandable and compressible frame and aplurality of actuators configured to radially expand and compress theframe, wherein each output torque shaft is releasably coupled to a screwof an actuator to transfer rotational motion from the torque shaft tothe screw, whereby rotation of the screws causes radial expansion orcompression of the frame.
 2. The prosthetic valve delivery apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a motor disposed in the handle, the motorbeing operatively connected to a proximal end portion of the inputtorque shaft, wherein actuation of the motor results in rotation of theinput torque shaft.
 3. The prosthetic valve delivery apparatus of claim1, wherein the drive gear comprises an internal gear and the drivengears comprise pinion gears positioned inside of the internal gear. 4.The prosthetic valve delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drivegear is mounted on the distal end portion of the input torque shaft andeach driven gear is mounted on one of the output torque shafts.
 5. Theprosthetic valve delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive gearhas teeth that mesh with teeth of each driven gear.
 6. The prostheticvalve delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gearbox furthercomprises at least one idler gear configured to transfer rotationalmotion from the drive gear to one of the driven gears.
 7. The prostheticvalve delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outputtorque shafts comprises three output torque shafts.
 8. The prostheticvalve delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein each output torque shaftcomprises a connector at its distal end configured to form a releasableconnection with an actuator on a prosthetic heart valve.
 9. Theprosthetic valve delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input torqueshaft defines a central rotation axis collinear with a centrallongitudinal axis of the delivery apparatus, and each output torqueshaft defines a rotation axis offset from the central longitudinal axisof the delivery apparatus.
 10. The prosthetic valve delivery apparatusof claim 1, wherein the input torque shaft extends at least the majorityof the length of the delivery apparatus.